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Scott Wiesbrook: Soil Judging

Since 2000, Scott Wiesbrook has been a co-instructor of Mr. Andrew Larson's Introduction to Soil Science (AG 282) class offered at Black Hawk College, East Campus. He has also assisted with instruction in Dr. Robert Darmody's Introduction to Field Pedology (NRES 276) class, in addition to being a guest instructor for Dr. Jeff Matthews's Wetland Delineation & Classification (NRES 285) class. As part of his outreach activities, Mr. Wiesbrook also works with soil judging teams in Illinois. These teams compete in contests designed to test the students' knowledge of basic soil properties, such as texture, color, and structure, as well as the students' understanding of interpretations made based on these properties and knowledge of local site characteristics. The students compete individually as part of a team at all levels; in addition, at the ASA contests students work together to fill out one set of results as a team. This helps expose students to the type of collaboration and teamwork that will be vital to their successes both inside and outside of the classroom. There has been a nationwide decline in students interested in studying soil science - it is therefore vitally important to interest our students in soil science and the protection and preservation of Illinois' most important natural resource, our soil. These contests are an excellent way to get students interested and involved in our field, and our teams have met with considerable success.

Since 2005, the University of Illinois' Soil Judging Team has placed fourth, sixth (twice), and seventh in the American Society of Agronomy National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest, in addition to placing first in the 2007 ASA Region III contest. Since Black Hawk College, East Campus (BHE) began to once again compete in soil judging in 2000, we have won seven national championships, in addition to having eight national champion individuals (see table).

BHE results at North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest.

Year

Contest Location

Team Placing

Highest Individual Student Placing

2018

Norfolk, Nebraska

First

First

2017

Manhattan, Kansas

First

First

2016

Crookston, Minnesota

Second

First

2015

Galva, Illinois

*

*

2014

Maryville, Missouri

First

First

2013

Lubbock, Texas

First

First

2012

Coffeyville, Kansas

First

First

2011

Modesto, California

First

First

2010

El Reno, Oklahoma

First

First

2009

Wooster, Ohio

Second

First

2008

Stephenville, Texas

Second

Second

2007

Hutchinson, Kansas

Third

Fifth

2006

Macomb, Illinois

First

First

2005

Norfolk, Nebraska

Second

Sixth

2004

Galva, Illinois

*

*

2003

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Second

Sixth

2000

Crookston, Minnesota

First

First

* In 2004 and 2015, BHE hosted the national contest and so we were not allowed to compete.

Mr. Wiesbrook has also been intimately involved with nearly every detail of hosting these contests. In 2004 and again in 2015, he served as the superintendent of the NACTA National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. Over 120 students from across the nation participated in these contests that he hosted, judged, and coordinated. This included site selection for both contest and practice pits, serving as an official judge, and coordinating schedules, equipment, and personnel. In both 2007 and 2014, Mr. Wiesbrook served as coordinator, superintendent, and official judge of the 2007 ASA Region III Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. Over 60 students from across the Midwest participated in these contests that he hosted, judged, and coordinated.

Since 2005, Mr. Wiesbrook has also served on the committee which reviews and edits the official rules for the NACTA contest. The committee has added and continues to add guidance to help new instructors become familiar with the rules, how to properly interpret them, and how to prepare a team for competition. The committee hopes to greatly expand the number of teams competing by making the contest more accessible to all.